Investigating the efficacy, methods, and challenges of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) therapy in Parkinson's disease.

Neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD) are defined by the gradual degeneration of neurons across various regions of the central nervous system, which ultimately leads to brain dysfunction in the affected patients. The utilization of stem cell-based approaches, encompassing fetal ventral mesencephalic cells, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), holds great promise for PD patients. The modeling of neurodegenerative diseases using stem cells provides a valuable platform to screen potential therapeutic agents and investigate disease mechanisms. However, the common clinical use of stem cell therapies is hindered by related ethical concerns, the risk of immunological rejection, and the lack of established grafting protocols. The conversion of differentiated adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has sparked renewed optimism for the progress of cell-based replacement therapeutic approaches. This review highlights the recent progress in the application of stem cell technologies, specifically the utilization of hiPSCs, for the treatment of PD. Additionally, the review discusses the potential of hiPSCs in PD, which can facilitate the translation of iPSC-based approaches into clinical settings for PD treatment.